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(No Model.) N l WIARD. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

MANUPAGTURE 0F GUNPOWDER.

No. 273,209. Patented Feb.2'7, 1883.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. WIARD MANUFAGTURB 0F GUNPOWDBR (No Model.)

No. 273,209. Patented Feb.27.1883.

Ewen/foy (No Model.) N WIARD.

4 Sheets-Sheet, 3.

MANUPAGTURE or GUNPOWDER. No. 273,209. Patented Feb.27, 1883. ffy. 1.0,/zg

Wbzessas.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

N. WIARD. MANUFAGTURE 0F GUNYOWDER. No. 273,209. Patented Feb. 2'7,1883.

l Favero-(o 14)' WWW @fw M4,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN WIARD, OF WASHINGTON,l DisTntoT OF COLUMBIA, AssieNOa 'To` ROBERTo. soHENoK AND HENRX'D. COOKE, BOTH OE SAME PLACE.

MANUFACT'URE OF ouNeowoER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,209, dated-ebruaji'y 27, 1883.

Application filed March 2, 1882. (No specimens.)

.To all whom` it mayconccrn: 14,1 Be it known that l, NORMAN WIARD,ofWashingtomiu the Districtot' Columbia, have invented'certainjmprovements iu Gunpop' der; and I hereby' declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof', ref- `eretico beinghad to the, accompanying drawings, making part of this" specification,in which ,o Figure 1 is a perspective view of a graiaof my improvedpowder. Fig. 2 shows a loif'gitudinal section of the same. Figs. 3, 4,5, 6, and 7 illustratea modilication in the form ot the grain. Figs. 8,9, 10, and llillustrate the grains fagotcd and wrapped to form apowdercartridge for a cannon ot' large caliber.` Figs. 12 to 25,inclusive, iilustrate adaptatidns of my invention` for use inl'owling-pieces and other small-arms, or for `cannon of lower caliber. v2 Heretofre all gunpowders have been made with the grains compressedupon their outer surfaces only to produce a desired density. lowders somade present the greatest,l or exterior surface, area of burning-surfaceat the initial ignition of the charge,and as the grains burn anddecrease in size the combustion-surface correspondingly decreases, sothat the greatest gas-producing capacity of the charge ot' powder is atorimmediatelyatter the initial ignition of the charge, when the inertiaof the shot has not been overcome, or when the shot has started to moveat a very low velocity, and the production of gas from that instantdecreases until the entire charge is converted into gas. There resultsfrom this operation the greatest. strain on the gun at the moment of theimpact ot' the powder charge upon the projectile, and from the momentthe inertia of 4o the projectile is overcome until it leaves the muzzleot' the gun the rapidity of the production of gases from the powdercharge is constantly on the decrease, being the reverse ot' theconditions necessary to produce the best results.

The object of my invention is to overcome the objections above named,and to produce a gunpowder which in its combustion will first overcomethe inertia of the projectile, and o thereafter produce gases with suchrapidlyincreasing volumes as will accelerate the travel ot theprojectile through the bore of the gun and give the highest pressure andgreatest veloeity, if desired, when the projectile leaves the muzzle, orat that part ofthe length of the bore which will impart the highestvelocity to the projectile with a given quantity of powder burned withina hore of given capacity-conditions which my improved pow'der,-.. heeiudescribed, by or through its adjustabilityfto dif- 6oferingratesofdevelopmentof to accommodate.

The machinery necessary to rapidly make this` improved powder will formthe subject-` matter of separate applications for patents.

My invention eonsists, -.tirst, in a perforated pellet or grain ofgunpowder havinga greatlyincreased density on its ou'tersunfacc, wherebythe grain under combustion i'ron all its 'surfaces will burninost slowlyfrom those surfaces 7o which are being reduced in area'and most rapidlyfrom those surfaces which.` arevbt--ing increased in area as thecombustion progresses; secondly, in a grain ot' gunpowder of varyingdensity of burning-surfaces ot' a tubular forni 75 provided with ataperingperforation.

In order that those skilled in the 'art may make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

Y In thesaid drawings, Fig. 1, A is an elon gated pellet or grain ot'gunpowder provided with a tapering opening or perforation, a. The

gases, is intended density of the exterior of the pellet or grain isgreater than thedensityof theinterior, and the variation is made in sncha ratio that when the pelletor grain is under combustion thegasproducing capacity of the interior surface is at the initial ignitionequal to the gas-producing capacity of the exterior or greatersurface,and .9c as the interior surface increases in area and theexterior surface decreases the combustion attacks the intermediateportion'of the grain, which, being ot' lessdensity than the surfaces,burns with much greater rapidity and evolves an accelerated volume otgas. For use these pellets or grains of powder are laid up incylindrical bundles or fagots, corresponding in diameter to the bore ofthe gun in which they are to be used, (sce Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11,) withroo the larger ends of the tapering perforations a all at the sameend/Rot' the package, and this package is surrounded by any desirablewrap. per to keep the pellets or grains in position, thereby formingr apowdercartridge.

1n loading, the cartridges are inserted with the smaller ends of theperforations a a toward the breech of the gun, andthe ringcharge orfulminate flashes through the perforations and fires the individualpellets or grains primarily from their interiorsurfaces. The taperingform of the perforations, the larger ends beingnext to the projectile,provides for a free escape of gases in that direction and prevents thefract ure of the pelletsor grains from internal pressure. When it isdesigned to burn the grain from both surfaces the hot gases reboundoverthe exterior surfaces of the grains and ignite them. Y

1n the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 the same varyingdensity ot' surface is applied to spherical powderparticularly adaptedfor great guns.

Modifications of my invention adapted for userin fowling-pieces areillustrated in Figs. 12 to 23, inclusive. Y

The variation inthe density of the burning surfaces may be accomplishedby molding the plastic powdercomposition under'a given press-y ure andthen allowing it to dry from either surface designed to have the lowerdensity, and subsequently, before the other surface has thoroughlydried, subjecting it to a greatly-increased pressure. Itis obvious thatany other practicable means for producing the same result may be usedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

I am aware that a pellet or grain of powder having perforations in it isnot broadly new.

-Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1.v Gunpowder consisting of punctured'or perforated pellets or grainshaving burningsurfaces of different density.

2. A perforated pellet or grain of gunpowder having its exterior surfaceof greater density than its interior surface, substantially as and forthe purpose set` forth..'`

3. A pellet or grain of gunpowder having varying density ofburning-surfaces, provided *with a. taperng'p'erioratiou, for thepurpose specified.

' NORMAN WIARD.

Witnesses:

JOHN P. HAMLI/N, T. J. WLLTERS.

